There is an outside chance Norris will be able to play some snaps in the Bruins' season-opener on Sept. 2 against Utah at the Rose Bowl. FILE PHOTO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Youth Movement

UCLA has played 26 true freshmen over the past three seasons including a school-record 12 in 2004. The depth in the program continues to improve, but still there are several freshmen in the two-deep depth chart - or competing for spots in the two-deep depth chart - going into game week:

OFFENSE

Wide receiver Terrence Austin

Offensive tackle Micah Kia

Running back/fullback Chane Moline

DEFENSE

Cornerback Jeremy McGee

Safety Christian Ramirez

Defensive tackle Darius Savage

Defensive tackle Jerzy Siewierski

Cornerback Alterraun Verner

LOS ANGELES - Turns out Michael Norris has a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, leaving an already thin group of cornerbacks looking even leaner.

There is an outside chance Norris will be able to play some snaps in the Bruins' season-opener on Sept. 2 against Utah at the Rose Bowl. But available or not, defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker is not in a panic mode, even though the Utes employ four outside receivers in their offensive sets and return one starting receiver and two others that split time as starters.

"I'm used to it," Walker said. "In the NFL, you have four cornerbacks or three that are real good and a fourth guy you hope you don't have to play, so this is the norm for me. We'll have a damage control package if something happens. But what I'm concerned with is that those guys keep going. I'm not going to panic because I've been there and I've got some other ideas."

With converted receiver Matt Slater also down with a left shoulder injury, the Bruins could have no choice but to play McGee at some point in the opener. The freshman has had some rough moments in practice since he was moved to defense on Monday - he recently was left flat-footed and beaten for a long gainer on a simple post pattern by Matt Willis.

But Walker is confident the freshman will make the transition. He does have the athleticism and flat out speed - he finished second in the state 100 meters in Louisiana - and, to Walker, the proper demeanor to get ahead quickly.

"It's going to be hard for him. It's rough. Playing running back, he never really had the formal training that a Verner had as a corner," said Walker, who also is coaching the Bruins' cornerbacks, the position he coached in the NFL. "But he's coming along slowly but surely. But I'm encouraged with the reps, and continuing to understand what we want.

"He's a smart guy and I think he's very competitive. I think those two things will get him going. The other thing is he's thin-skinned. If you've got a guy who is a little timid, then I'd be a little worried. But a guy like him, he's thick-skinned and he's going to fight through it. He's the kind of guy, I think, that's going to figure it out."

Notes

Utah has a starting quarterback - senior Brett Ratliff has beaten out Oklahoma transfer Tommy Grady (Edison High) and will start against the Bruins. Ratliff led the Utes to 79 points in back-to-back victories over BYU (41-34) and Georgia Tech (38-10) in the Emerald Bowl at the end of last season. Strongside linebacker John Hale (Los Alamitos High) did not practice because of a right hamstring strain. Hale has been suspended for the season-opener against Utah. Safety Robert Kibble, who is recovering from an episode of multiple sclerosis, did not participate in any drills after taking part the past two days. The Bruins will walk through game-day situations today at the Rose Bowl. Third running back Derrick Williams did not practice for a second day in a row because of a hamstring strain.

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